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Information Literacy Resources

Information Literacy is the ability to find, analyze and use information.

The American Library Association (ALA) is a leader in promoting the need for Information Literacy

[This page is not produced, reviewed or approved by the ALA, ACRL, IASSIST, the MAA, the ASA or any other professional organization]

Information Literacy: General Websites

Information Literacy Assessment

Information Literacy Articles

Information Literacy is the set of skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze, and use information. The beginning of the 21st century has been called the Information Age because of the explosion of information output and information sources. It has become increasingly clear that students cannot learn everything they need to know in their field of study in a few years of college. Information literacy equips them with the critical skills necessary to become independent lifelong learners.

Too often we assume that as students write research papers and read textbooks they are gaining sufficient IL skills. This is not so. IL skills may be introduced but what is needed is a parallel curriculum in IL forming a strong foundation of a college education.

As the American Library Association Presidential Committee on Information Literacy (January 10, 1989, Washington, D.C.) says “Ultimately, information literate people are those who have learned how to learn. They know how to learn because they know how knowledge is organized, how to find information, and how to use information in such a way that others can learn from them. They are people prepared for lifelong learning, because they can always find the information needed for any task or decision at hand.”

Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." An information literate individual is able to:

  1. Determine the extent of information needed
  2. Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
  3. Evaluate information and its sources critically
  4. Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
  5. Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
  6. Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally

American Library Association (ALA), Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)

National Council of Libraries (US)

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

BOOKS:

Information Literacy Instruction for Educators Edited by Dawn Shinew and Scott Walter (2003)

  • Foreword (Michael B. Eisenberg).
  • Information Literacy Instruction for Educators: A Global Perspective on Needs and Opportunities (Scott Walter and Danw M. Shinew).
  • Technology and the Concept of information Literacy for Pre-Service Teachers (Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe).
  • Whither They Go: An Analysis of the Inclusion of School Library Programs and Services in the Preparation of Pre-Service Teachers in Canadian Universities (Marlene Asselin and Ray Doiron). Teaching, Learning and Information Literacy: Developing an Understanding of Pre-Service Teacher's Knowledge (Jennifer L. Branch).
  • A Flying Start for Our Future Teachers: A Comprehensive Information Literacy Program for Pre-Service Education Students at the University of Wollongong, Australia (Suzanne Lipu).
  • Teaching Teachers to Teach: Collaborating with a University Education Department to Teach Skills in Information Literacy Pedagogy (Steve W. Witt and Julia B. Dickinson).
  • Survey of the Influence of Mississippi School Library Programs on Academic Achievement: Implications for Administration Preparation Programs (Thelma Roberson, William Schweinle and Mary Beth Applin).
  • Information Literacy in a Doctoral program (Maria Grant and Marlowe Berg).
  • Information Literacy in Pre-Service Teacher Education: An Annotated Bibliography (Corey M. Johnson and Lorena O'English).

ACTIVITIES:

The Alliance for a Media Literate America (AMLA)

The AMLA is committed to promoting media literacy education that is focused on critical inquiry, learning, and skill-building. This national, grassroots membership organization is a key force in bringing media literacy education to all 60 million students in the United States, their parents, their teachers, and others who care about youth.

Need funds to attend NMEC 2007? The National Education Association Foundation Learning and Leadership Grants provide $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups of public school teachers, public education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education to fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2006. >details...

NMEC 2007 Preparations are underway for two AMLA events in 2007. AMLA will host the bi-annual National Media Education Conference (NMEC) June 23 - 27 in St. Louis. Our conference theme will be “Exploring Media Literacy in the 21st Century.” NMEC participants can look forward to a focus on the exploration of media literacy as a critical life skill for the 21st century. Experts and practitioners will present practical approaches and research models of media literacy for the home, school and community.

In addition to NMEC, The AMLA will feature a Media Literacy Education Research Summit as a major pre-conference event. The conference will also feature Modern Media Makers (M3), an organized opportunity for local St. Louis youth to learn critical media literacy and production skills in an educational environment. The young people will showcase their work for conference participants during NMEC.

Following the NMEC theme of exploration the AMLA Research Summit pre-conference will host an international group of experts from a diverse array of fields who will convene under the aegis of the Alliance for a Media-Literate America (AMLA), to review the existing research evidence about the efficacy of media literacy education and to develop a research agenda for the future.

CFP: LILAC 2006: Librarians' Information Literacy Annual Conference

University of Leeds, 27th-29th March 2006 Deadline: November 30, 2005.  Organised by the Information Literacy Sub-group of CSG (CILIP).

Conference themes:

  • Embedding and enriching
  • Information Literacy and citizenship
  • New areas of practice and research
  • Practical